Stabilizer for bedsprings



1 'J. T. ATKINSON STABILiZER FOR BEDSPRINGS Filed Jan. 24, 1929 R m m w ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 19, 1932 nitas stars.

rarer V OFFICE JEROME T. ATKINSON, OF LONG- ISLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO B. H. MACY & GO.,

INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEVI YORK STABILIZER FOR BEDSPRINGS Application filed. January 24, 1929. Serial No. 334,726.

The object of the invention is to provide reinforcement and stifiening to the border wires of the top frame in such springs in order to practically eliminate all side motion of the border wire and to add considerable resistance against a load; that is to say, when a person reclines on the furniture spring the border wire will give less than the coiled springs, and as a consequence sagging will take place in the middle instead of at the edge of the furniture spring. This will give more comfort to the person using it, prevent accidents from falling 011' the bed and provide greater wear and lasting qualities to the furniture spring.

In its preferred form the stabilizer forming the subject-matter of the present invention consists of a bifurcated device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the preferred form of the stabilizer;

2, a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a. vertical section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4c is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 5, a top plan view of Fig. 4.

Referring first to the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the side rail 10 is part of the bottom frame of a bed spring and is cross connected with its opposite mate by a series of straps or cross members 11 secured thereto by rivets or the like. These straps provide seats for a series of coiled springs 12.

The top frame of the bed spring consists of border rods 13 to which the top coils of the adjacent springs 12 are tied or secured in any suitable manner, as at 18. The construction so far disclosed is the kind usually employed in furniture or bed springs and does accordingly not form part of the present invention.

The stabilizer forming the subject-matter of the present invention is preferably of V- shape and made of a piece of double bent spring wire having two diverging arms or shanks 15 joined together, as at 16, where the stabilizer pivotally engages an aperture formed in one of the cross members 11. The shanks 15 are upwardly inclined from the strap 11 and with their upper ends also pivotally engage the border rod 13 situated nearestthereto. For this purpose eyelets 1 1 are preferably provided at the ends of the shanks and riveted thereto. These eyelets are preferably made from flat band iron looped around the border rod 13, as seen in the drawings.

Adjacent to the apex at 16 of the stabilizer is provided a guide or cradle 17 for the same. This cradle 17 consists of a pair of flat metal pieces situated one on each side of the cross member 11 and riveted or welded thereto. The upper ends of these metal pieces are spread apart in order tostraddle the apex end 16 of the stabilizer and permitting a slight movement thereof and provide a fulcrum therefor, while preventing any sideways rocking of the shanks 15. In its applied position the stabilizer has substantially the outline of a triangle which is secured at its three corners. By this arrangement the maximum strength and ease of working of the stabilizer spring are attained.

When there is no load on the furniture spring, that is to say, when the coiled springs 12 are in their free position, as indicated in the figures, the shanks 15 do not rest on the bottom of the cradle 17 1 If now a person sits down on the furniture spring a great deal less compression of the edge coils will occur with the stabilizer in position than without it. In ordinary furniture springs the greatest compression and consequent sagging thus takes place along the edge. With one or more stabilizers installed all the sagging takes place further back from the edge rod 13 and nearer the middle of the furniture spring. On account of the play 100 tion of the stabilizer becomes stiff and bend ing takes place in the arms between the cradle 17 and the edge or border rod 13. As the border rod thus obtains added support from the stabilizer, the load will cause greater compression away from the border rod 13 than along the same.

The modified form of stabilizer illustrated in Figs. at and 5 consists of a single piece of flat, tempered steel bar providing a single straight arm 20. As before, the furniture spring has the usual bottom frame, with side rails 10 and cross members 11 for supporting the coiled springs 12; and an upper frame with its border wires or rods 19. In this case the stabilizer 20 is placed between two adjacent and parallel rows of coiled springs 12 and mustfor this reason he provided with a special cross member or strap 22 reaching across the bottom frame and riveted or welded to the side rails 10. To this special strap the lower end of the stabilizer 20 is securely fastened, as by riveting 21, but its upper end is pivotally engaged to the border rod 19 and preferably as indicated by looping the fiat arm 20 around the border rod 19, as indicated at 14, but it is evident that a separate fastening, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may equally well be utilized.

This modified form of the stabilizer is similar in action and application to the preferrcd form previously described, but with the difference that no free, initial movement is possible on account of the unyielding connection between the lower end of arm 20 with the cross member 22, instead of the hinged connection at 16 in the former case.

On account of the bracing property of both stabilizer constructions the coiled springs are protected from lateral strain and consequent deformation, which tends not only to lengthen the life of the furniture spring, but also provides increased comfort in its use. i

The term furniture spring as used in the claims is intended to include bed springs as well as springs used for Morris chairs, settees, davenports, automobile seats and the like.

It is to be understood that the invention as here disclosed is not limited to the details of construction shown and described, and that these may be varied widely without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a furniture spring, the combination with a bottom frame, a plurality of coiled springs seated thereon and borderrods connecting certain of said coiled springs; of a bifurcated stabilizer having its two shank ends hinged to one of said border rods and pivoted connection at its apex with said frame, and a cradle on the frame for said shanks adapted to guide the shanks and provide a fulcrum therefor.

2. In a furniture spring, the combination with a bottom frame, a plurality of coiled springs seated thereon and border rods connecting certain of said coiled springs; of a stabilizer consisting of a double bent spring wire in the shape of a V to provide two shanks, the free ends of the shanks having pivotal connection with one of said border rods, the apex of the stabilizer hingedly supported in a suitable opening in said frame, and a device on said frame providing a guide and fulcrum for the stabilizer.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at New York city, New York, this 26th day of September, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-eight.

JEROME T. ATKINSON. 

